Smithville justice resigns, leaves township without a court official
SMITHVILLE – The Town of Smithville justice seat is empty for the time being after former Justice Benjamin Kehl tendered his resignation Oct. 1 to pursue a career outside the area.
Kehl, an employee of a gas and oil distributor, foresaw the chance of personal opportunities outside the area months ago, explained Supervisor Fred Heisler, but had agreed to work for the township as along as possible. He had served as town justice for only nine months after winning the position in the general election last November.
“It wasn’t a sudden surprise to us. He was keeping us aware that it was going to happen,” Heisler said. “I would have loved it if he had gone on to the end of the year, but he did what I had asked him to do ... It just got to be too much for him.”
Now, the township faces the arduous process of filling the vacancy – a process that’s new to Heisler and other members of the town board.
The board has notified Chenango County Court Judge Howard Sullivan of their predicament and are seeking counsel throughout the process. Another Town of Smithville resident who had served as interim justice in previous years was asked by the board if he had interest in serving again, but turned down the proposal, Heisler said. It’s now up to the New York Sixth Judicial District to appoint someone to the position, which isn’t restricted to people living in the township.
The loss of Kehl also presents new challenges in obtaining grant funding through the New York State’s Justice Court Assistance Program for building a new court facility in Smithville. The potential to obtain JCAP funding was brought to the board’s attention by Kehl in April and a decision was made to move forward with the application process. If awarded, grant money could be used to replace the current space reserved for the justice within town hall, which is now insufficient as it is not up to par with state standards.
“This might preclude us from getting any grants this year,” Heisler said; however, he also claimed that the town may be denied funding because it needed to provide additional information not initially submitted with the grant application.
Presently, the board is also considering the option of building a new town hall, with space appropriated for the town justice. Board members have been touring other local municipalities, including Plymouth, that used JCAP funding for similar purposes in recent years.
“It’s something that’s just in the talking stages now,” said Heisler. “We’ll have to see what transpires from here.”
Kehl, an employee of a gas and oil distributor, foresaw the chance of personal opportunities outside the area months ago, explained Supervisor Fred Heisler, but had agreed to work for the township as along as possible. He had served as town justice for only nine months after winning the position in the general election last November.
“It wasn’t a sudden surprise to us. He was keeping us aware that it was going to happen,” Heisler said. “I would have loved it if he had gone on to the end of the year, but he did what I had asked him to do ... It just got to be too much for him.”
Now, the township faces the arduous process of filling the vacancy – a process that’s new to Heisler and other members of the town board.
The board has notified Chenango County Court Judge Howard Sullivan of their predicament and are seeking counsel throughout the process. Another Town of Smithville resident who had served as interim justice in previous years was asked by the board if he had interest in serving again, but turned down the proposal, Heisler said. It’s now up to the New York Sixth Judicial District to appoint someone to the position, which isn’t restricted to people living in the township.
The loss of Kehl also presents new challenges in obtaining grant funding through the New York State’s Justice Court Assistance Program for building a new court facility in Smithville. The potential to obtain JCAP funding was brought to the board’s attention by Kehl in April and a decision was made to move forward with the application process. If awarded, grant money could be used to replace the current space reserved for the justice within town hall, which is now insufficient as it is not up to par with state standards.
“This might preclude us from getting any grants this year,” Heisler said; however, he also claimed that the town may be denied funding because it needed to provide additional information not initially submitted with the grant application.
Presently, the board is also considering the option of building a new town hall, with space appropriated for the town justice. Board members have been touring other local municipalities, including Plymouth, that used JCAP funding for similar purposes in recent years.
“It’s something that’s just in the talking stages now,” said Heisler. “We’ll have to see what transpires from here.”
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